I survived the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle Washington

My brother wrote me email that said Washington State is failing apart, wished me well, and hoped that I stayed safe. I honestly had no idea what he was referring to.

It turns out that Fox News has been digitally altering images from riots in Minnesota to create a false narrative about the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Washington.

Here is a link to the story:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/fox-news-runs-digitally-altered-images-in-coverage-of-seattles-protests-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone/

As a former Managing Editor for the University of Washington Daily newspaper, I find this disingenuous altering of images absolutely appalling and sickening. This is not some "rogue employee". The decision to run material from a different story would have had to come from the top of the organization as a concerted effort to align messaging across their News and Editorial sections.

There isn't an "all media is bad" argument. Pulling AP wire from one story, materially and editorially modifying it, and applying it to a different news event is way over the line for journalistic integrity.

News organizations JUST DON'T DO THIS. This would normally be a fireable offense ending in multiple employee terminations.

There is not a word in the English language that adequately describes what Fox News did: I can only try to express it by taking all of the words you would associate with integrity, taking their antonyms, and add them together. It is not only intellectually dishonest BUT also just lazy.

The question on my mind is "Why?". What would compel a news organization to falsify news so blatantly? This is beyond "spin", sensationalizing a story to get ratings, or even "alternative facts". The only reason I can think of is to illicit support for the militarization against (selected) protests.

Concerned if that was the real case, I felt compelled to created this video in order to counteract the false narrative that Fox News is fabricating and disseminating and to document what is really going on as part of the public record.

Note: I have zero sympathy for looters or rioters.

Commenters wrongly assume that I am supporting the lawless creation of the CHAZ. I'm not, but I see this as a local government and police matter.

These are good, well-intentioned, young people who banded together because they feel they are powerless do anything individually. Buildings can be repaired, graffiti erased, barricades removed; the helplessness to change a biased and unfair system is the tragedy.

Lastly, for all of the commenters who think it is patriotic to use the military to put down these protests, I will remind you that it goes against our nation's laws and Constitution. I will also urge you to keep in mind that America -- and all of the rights that we enjoy -- were borne out of protest. Our pre-nation's first protest was far messier and far less peaceful than a bunch of people meandering around a park in Seattle.

Signed,
Proud American!

This video recorded on Saturday evening June 13th, 2020 around 7:30pm in Seattle, Washington. I cannot testify to any events before or after this time, but this is exactly what was going on in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle, Washington.

Видео I survived the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle Washington канала Damon Danieli